May 17, 2017 By Sahr Morris Jnr
President of National Olympic Committee of Sierra Leone (NOC-SLE), Dr. Patrick Coker on Tuesday applauded Sierra Leonean athletes who competed in the just concluded West Africa Region II Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Senior and Junior Championships in Conakry, Guinea.
Sierra Leone secured 18 medals at the championship, an achievement that pleases the NOC-SLE boss who admitted that: “It pleases me to see people (athletes) not only returning home but also coming back with medals.”
Addressing the delegation, Dr. Coker said despite the athletes were competing against others under the most difficult condition, he was willing and ready to support people who are performing well.
“You are not getting the supports because the President of Athletes Association is my Vice President at the NOC but because you are performing well and that my condition if people perform well they will get my support,” Dr. Coker said.
Sierra Leonean athletes won 12 bronzes, five silvers while youngster Fatamata Koroma from Makeni outstanding 11.03sec display in the 100m women to give the country’s its only gold in the championship.
Vice President of Sierra Leone Athletics Association, Emric Cole pleased to the NOC-SLE for more assistance to expose the athletes to training camps. He said: “We competed against athletes from different training camps and it was very difficult for our athletes. If there is no opportunity for them to go to training camps the alternative is improve training back home with more funds.”
The NOC-SLE Secretary General, Joseph Nyande admitted that during their recent journey to Dubai and Djibouti, they engaged in talks with other Nations to help them have Sierra Leonean athletes in their respective training camps.